1 Peter 2:11–25

A CALL TO GOOD WORKS

¹¹Dear friends, I urge you as strangers and exiles^t to abstain^u from sinful^v desires that wage war against the soul.^{w 12}Conduct^x yourselves honorably among the Gentiles,^A so that when they slander you as evildoers, they will observe your good works and will glorify God on the day he visits.^y

¹³Submit^z to every human authority because of the Lord, whether to the emperor^B as the supreme authority^{aa 14}or to governors as those sent out by him to punish those who do what is evil and to praise those who do what is good. ¹⁵For it is God’s will^ab that you silence the ignorance^ac of foolish people by doing good. ¹⁶Submit as free people, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil,^ad but as God’s slaves.^{ae 17}Honor everyone. Love^af the brothers and sisters.^ag Fear God.^ah Honor the emperor.

SUBMISSION OF SLAVES TO MASTERS

¹⁸Household slaves, submit to your masters^ai with all reverence^aj not only to the good and gentle ones but also to the cruel.^{ak 19}For it brings favor if, because of a consciousness of God, someone endures grief from suffering unjustly. ²⁰For what credit is there if when you do wrong and are beaten, you endure it? But when you do what is good and suffer,^al if you endure it, this brings favor with God.

²¹For you were called to this, because Christ also suffered^am for you, leaving you an example,^an that you should follow^ao in his steps. ²²He did not commit sin,^ap and no deceit^aq was found in his mouth;^{Car 23}when he was insulted, he did not insult in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten but entrusted himself to the one who judges^as justly. ²⁴He himself bore our sins^at in his body^au on the tree;^av so that, having died to sins,^aw we might live for righteousness.^ax By his wounds^Day you have been healed. ²⁵For you were like sheep going astray,^Eaz but you have now returned to the Shepherd^ba and Overseer^F of your souls.